Note: this FAQ is intended to answer common questions that may arise, but nothing in this FAQ overrides the official rules of the competition.

Overview

What is the Snowflake Startup Challenge?

The Snowflake Startup Challenge is a global competition for developers and early stage startups to build innovative data applications that serve an unmet market need using Snowflake as a key part of their infrastructure. Startups compete for the opportunity to receive marketing exposure, exposure to sponsoring venture capitalists, and the potential to receive funding from Snowflake.

What kinds of apps is Snowflake looking for?

We’re looking for unique SaaS and AI applications that harness large volumes of complex data to solve high impact problems that, if solved, can result in a large market opportunity. Applications should leverage Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud as the core platform, utilizing its advanced capabilities to power transformative solutions

Who is Snowflake looking to participate?

We’re looking for early stage startups with the ability to execute on their vision.

Eligibility

Who is eligible to participate?

Please see the rules (section three). 

What is the requirement on the use of Snowflake in the application?

The application must be dependent on Snowflake such that Snowflake is integral to its production workload. Snowflake should be the primary data store to power in-app analytics or other workloads. The application uses Snowflake first party capabilities for streaming, storage and computation.

Is there a cost to participate?

There are no fees required to participate. Eligible participants will have access to an extended trial account with $400 in Snowflake credits up to March 1, 2025.

How do I get access to an extended trial account?

You can access the extended trial by registering your interest on the Snowflake Startup Challenge page.

What materials are required to enter?

To enter the competition you must submit a complete application before the deadline. You may submit your entry from the Snowflake Startup Challenge page. Semifinalists will also be required to submit a video recording of their investor pitch (up to 5 minutes), provide access to their application, and interview with the Snowflake team. For additional details, review the official rules.

Judging Process & Criteria

How does the judging work?

Snowflake will review all eligible entries and select up to 10 semi-finalists. The semi-finalists will then submit a video recording of their investor pitch and provide access to their application. The judges will then select 3 finalists who will pitch at the Snowflake Summit in the summer of 2025 where the judges will select and announce the winner.

What is the judging criteria?

The entries will be judged according to the following criteria:

• Business potential, including market opportunity, business model, and the degree to which it complements Snowflake and helps Snowflake users
• Innovation, including the application’s uniqueness, competitive edge, and dual AI impact—leveraging disruptive AI components and reshaping the AI industry.
• Snowflake leverage, including utilization of a broad feature set such as Snowflake Cortex, Secure Data Sharing, Snowpark, Snowpark Container Services, Hybrid Tables, Snowflake Native App Framework, User-Defined Functions (UDFs), multi-cluster warehouse, Time Travel, and VARIANT data type. Visit https://www.snowflake.com/developers/ for features relevant to app developers.
• The team’s leadership experience and ability to execute

Potential Investments & Prizes

Potential Investments:

• Up to $500,000 for the winner.
• Up to $250,000 for each of the other two companies in the top 3.

Prizes

Support

What support is available for the participants?

You can reach to our team at [email protected]